Toro

pound for pound has to be one of the hardest pulling fish in the Sea. This 30+ pounder Crevalle jack, "toro" lived up to the reputation.

Caught last week off of Punta Pescador, Bahia de Los Angeles. The yellowtail fishing was very good also, 10 to 30 pound fish, but this toro fought as lot harder than any of the dozens of yellowtail we caught while fishing with Papa Joel for the week in Bahia.

nice catch!

they are beasts, i hooked up to one about that size in my 12ft aluminum skiff, trolling a 2oz spoon on a small 3000 series reel, had a blast getting drug all over Loreto bay

eventually got him landed, i wanted to throw him back my Mexican friend insisted he wanted to eat it

never heard of anyone eating jack crevalle, maybe smoked?

[Edited on 9-11-2020 by defrag4]

Quote: Originally posted by defrag4

nice catch! they are beasts, i hooked up to one about that size in my 12ft aluminum skiff, trolling a 2oz spoon on a small 3000 series reel, had a blast getting drug all over Loreto bay eventually got him landed, i wanted to throw him back my Mexican friend insisted he wanted to eat it never heard of anyone eating jack crevalle, maybe smoked? [Edited on 9-11-2020 by defrag4]

I hope I never get that hungry!

Quote: Originally posted by defrag4

never heard of anyone eating jack crevalle, maybe smoked?[Edited on 9-11-2020 by defrag4]

Caught that fish on Joel's boat rod. We were on a sightseeing, beach combing trip and did not bring my gear.

Joel's boat rig was an old Penn 500 with good 40 lb string on a Big 5 rod. Salas 6x white, my favorite jig was on the end. Friggin reel had frozen drags and a skipping crank gear. Fought for every foot of gain on that one. We saw the toros on top and I said to Joel, let stop, hook one and pass it off to Martha as she was so impressed by how hard yellowtail pulled.. Well, Martha wanted none of that and I was stuck bringing it in.

Dumb ass move on my part and the whole fight I was waiting for that Penn 500 to blow up, just like they used to do 40 years ago after a long day pulling on yellowtails in the same place.

Eating it? We have tried it and wish we had not.

Joel Prieto, local fishing guide, made an interesting comment though. He said with the declining yellowtail stocks he has noticed year to year, we may all have to get used to toro as table fare. That is so depressing as I agree with del mar, hope we never get that hungry!

The beach combing was relaxing.

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge

Quote: Originally posted by defrag4   never heard of anyone eating jack crevalle, maybe smoked?[Edited on 9-11-2020 by defrag4] Caught that fish on Joel's boat rod. We were on a sightseeing, beach combing trip and did not bring my gear. Joel's boat rig was an old Penn 500 with good 40 lb string on a Big 5 rod. Salas 6x white, my favorite jig was on the end. Friggin reel had frozen drags and a skipping crank gear. Fought for every foot of gain on that one. We saw the toros on top and I said to Joel, let stop, hook one and pass it off to Martha as she was so impressed by how hard yellowtail pulled.. Well, Martha wanted none of that and I was stuck bringing it in. Dumb ass move on my part and the whole fight I was waiting for that Penn 500 to blow up, just like they used to do 40 years ago after a long day pulling on yellowtails in the same place. Eating it? We have tried it and wish we had not. Joel Prieto, local fishing guide, made an interesting comment though. He said with the declining yellowtail stocks he has noticed year to year, we may all have to get used to toro as table fare. That is so depressing as I agree with del mar, hope we never get that hungry! The beach combing was relaxing.

sounds like a great day in baja to me!

nice work landing the toro on the frozen reel

My wife caught a toro many years ago in Loreto. The guide told us it was good to eat. We took a big slab to the Mission hotel for dinner. The cook said "oh no, let me make you something you will enjoy". We had grouper and turtle. Never tried one after that.

Anything that needs to be soaked in milk is not the best.
One of me neighbors told me that Ospreys are good to eat, you only need to soak them in milk first.

Quote: Originally posted by Mulege Canuck

We woke up to the sound of feeding fish. We rushed out and tossed a Crocodile into the school and got into one right away. What a blast! The bite only lasted for 10 minutes and then they moved on. The next morning we waded out as the sun came up with coffee in hand, waiting for them. They came again. Lots of fun.

Quote: Originally posted by vandy

I love the Toro recipes. Most start: Bleed immediately and put on ice. Filet and skin. Remove darkest meat. Cut into pieces. Soak in milk in fridge 48 hours. They claim it's great, though.

Quote: Originally posted by msteve1014

My wife caught a toro many years ago in Loreto. The guide told us it was good to eat. We took a big slab to the Mission hotel for dinner. The cook said "oh no, let me make you something you will enjoy". We had grouper and turtle. Never tried one after that. Anything that needs to be soaked in milk is not the best. One of me neighbors told me that Ospreys are good to eat, you only need to soak them in milk first.

Ahh, the old Mission hotel and bar. What great times we had many years ago indeed. One of my favorite bars in Baja back in the day. My wife and i stayed a week in the remodeled Mission Hotel in Loreto last November. They did a very nice job on the remodel and the new Mission Hotel is run very well. Great facilities, great service, great location. But, the old bar was in a class of it's own.

Roger on if it calls for milk in a recipe.... stop.

We did manage easy limits of yellowtails one day.
That we used for fish tacos and ceviche.
The rest I brought back frozen and we it canned up yesterday.
So far this year we have canned over 100 pints of bluefin, yellowfin and yellowtail.

We can it in olive oil, in spring water, plain, with garlic, ginger, peppers, dill, onions and combinations thereof. Properly canned, fresh caught fish is great eats with salads, on sandwiches and makes fine Christmas gifts too.